A safety innovation developed by the team at our Mistassini (Quebec) sawmill was recently featured in a video series on safety by the Journal de Montréal (in French). The video was created in collaboration with the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), Quebec’s provincial government agency overseeing labor and health and safety standards.
The two-minute video demonstrates an innovative door-locking system that was designed for mechanical garage doors in order to improve safety at the sawmill. Employees developed the new system after becoming concerned about the possibility that the previous garage door could malfunction and cause injury. The innovation is comprised of a blocking system, a recessed control box, a manual lever and a signpost that activates automatically when it is safe for employees to walk through the doorway. Users can activate the system with just one motion, minimizing the potential for errors. Thanks to this simple but effective modification, workers at Mistassini can do their jobs more safely.
In 2015, the initiative was recognized by the CNESST with a bronze award for safety innovation in the large business category for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. This video, produced by the CNESST, provides an in-depth look at the project.
Kudos to our employees at Mistassini for their creativity and resourcefulness!
